This category is for waymarking:
- Benchmarks included in the National Geodetic Survey (NGS) geodetic mark database and/or the Geocaching copy of the NGS database.
- Disks and other types of geodetic marks that are listed in local benchmark databases on misc. websites.
- Benchmarks that you find, including disks that look just like geodetic disks, such as cadastral disks, right of way disks, and boundary marker disks.
Auxiliary disks including Reference Mark disks and Azimuth Mark disks. (If the auxiliary disk doesn't have its own datasheet but is mentioned in a station disk's datasheet, please provide the URL of the station disk's datasheet.)
Waymarking uses the term "benchmark" to include both bench marks (vertical control) and other geodetic marks (horizontal control), and therefore this category is for waymarking both general types.
This category is fairly strictly limited to disk (and pipe cap and rod) type marks (with a photograph) for fear that too many marks that may appear to be geodetic marks, but are not, might otherwise be included. As of 2/1/2010, the following change is in effect. There are also thousands of survey marks like nails or wood stakes with painted triangles, small round washers, disks less than 2 inches in diameter, survey ribbon, and the like, making it obvious that the marker is a survey point, but this category will not include them. These items that were waymarked prior to 2/1/2010 are grandfathered.
However, non-disk types will be allowed if they are listed in an online database of benchmarks (such as on Geocaching.com) and include objects such as lookout towers, nails, bolts, spires, chiseled squares, etc.
The Agency dropdown menu will grow (manually by the category manager) with mark recoveries.